Visit the ruined city of Ayutthaya for a glimpse of Thailand history
Vistors stroll the grounds of Ayutthaya historical park outside Bangkok. Once the capital of Siam, Ayuthaya was reduced to ruins by a Burmese invasion in the 18th century.
AYUTTHAYA, Thailand — If Bangkok’s gritty streets and modern high-rises begin to close in on you, the best place to escape to is Ayutthaya, about an hour’s drive.
Centuries ago, this fallen city was one of the largest in the world, ideally situated between China, India and the Malay archipelago. It was a trading capital, and its 400 opulent temples and palaces glowed in the sunlight. Today they take on an ethereal glow — at least at night, when they are illuminated.
But the best time to visit the historical park is during the day, when you can stroll or bike among the ruins, many of which have been restored.
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The Hindu Erawan Shrine seen from the BTS walkway.
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Images of the King and Queen of Thailand can be seen throughout the nation. King Bhumibol Adulyadej is 88 and is in ill health, as is his wife, Queen Sirikit. The country is run by a military junta that seized power in 2014.
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Fruit is on sale at a well-stocked countryside market outside Bangkok.
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Large bundles of pink roses sell for less than $2 at the Flower Market, near the edge of Bangkok’s Chinatown.
(Rosemary McClure / For The Times)
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A street scene filled with color in the Flower Market at the edge of Chinatown in central Bangkok.
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A coffee shop advertises Elephant Dung Coffee made from beans that are eaten and passed through an elephant.
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A raised palm lake is reflected in the mirror-like waters of a courtyard patio at the Siam Hotel in Bangkok.
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Massage techs clown around as they give foot massages outdoors near Khao San Road in the backpacker district.
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A motor bike carries a helmeted family of three near the Flower Market at the edge of Chinatown.
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Traffic moves through the evening in Bangkok under the BTS Skytrain system.
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The Thai tuk-tuk, also known as a three-wheeler or auto rickshaw, is a popular form of local transportation. It is used mostly in congested urban areas and is popular with foreign tourists in Bangkok.
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Traffic backs up on Rama 4 road near the main business district. Bangkok is noted for having some of the worst traffic jams in the world.
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A Longboat sails on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok on a rainy day. The river offers an alternate to using city streets, which are often congested.
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Bhumibol Bridge was built to help alleviate traffic congestion in Bangkok.
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An elevated train runs on the line linking Bangkok’s city center to Suvarnabhumi airport.
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Vistors stroll the grounds of Ayutthaya historical park outside Bangkok. Once the capital of Siam, Ayuthaya was reduced to ruins by a Burmese invasion in the 18th century.
(Rosemary McClure / For The Times)
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A monk sketches an image at Ayutthaya historical park.
(Rosemary McClure / For The Times)
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A visitor poses for a selfie outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok on a cloudy morning.
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Outside the Grand Palace, which is the No. 1 tourist draw in Bangkok, Thailand.
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The massive Reclining Buddha, 150 feet long, is housed in Wat Pho temple complex, near the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
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Golden guardian statues protect the Temple of the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace complex in Bangkok.
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This guardian statue is a colorful protector of the Grand Palace complex.
(Rosemary McClure / For The Times)
At one time, Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam, home to 33 kings and numerous dynasties between 1350 and 1767, when the Burmese sacked it and left it in ruins. During the height of its power, its kings ruled an area the size of England and France.
Much of the capital had deteriorated when restoration work began. Today there are several functioning temples, and more than a dozen restored ruins can be found within the heart of the park. In 1991 the area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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The architecture is a mix of styles, some of which are similar to those in Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.
Visit the area on a half-day or full-day trip by bus, private car or lunch cruise from Bangkok. Traveling by boat to or from Ayutthaya gives visitors an opportunity to see how people live along the Chao Phraya River, considered the lifeblood of Bangkok and the surrounding region.
